Ready-to-teach lesson
First, Then, At the End A Thousand Theos - Grade 1 - One-sitting lesson
TIME
OBJECTIVE
PRODUCT
30 minutes Retell the story in order using the central problem, response, and resolution. A three-part oral or written retell using First, Then, and At the end. Essential question: What problem starts the story, how does the community respond, and how is it resolved?
Materials
- The book
- Three-part retell organizer
- Pencil or crayons Text to mark
- Opening - Theo is missing and Benny is affected
- Middle - lost-dog signs spread through the community
- Ending - the ice-cream driver returns Theo
Lesson sequence
1 First - 6 min Reread the opening. Have students state the problem and identify who is affected. 2 Then - 7 min Have students select the central middle event that best explains how the community responds. 3 At the end - 7 min Reread Theo's return. Have students explain how the driver knew where to bring him. 4 Retell - 6 min Have students tell the story in three connected sentences using the sequence words. 5 Close - 4 min Remove one part from a sample retell and ask what important information is missing.
Teacher key
First: Theo is missing and Benny is worried or sad. Then: Benny and the community make and spread lost-dog signs. At the end: an ice-cream driver uses the sign information to return Theo.
Support & extension
- Support:
- Use picture cues and allow an oral retell with teacher scribing. Extension: Add one sentence explaining how the middle events cause the ending.
Assessment
- States the missing-dog problem
- Names the sign-making response
- Explains Theo's return as the resolution
page 1
- Uses First, Then, and At the end in a focused retell
page 2
page 3
